Teaching Your Children About The Dangers Of Drugs
Assisting your children in avoiding dangerous substances, including illegal drugs, can be difficult. Children are exposed to these dangers at a younger age than ever before, making it essential that parents begin conversations as soon as possible. So, how do you get started? Here are some tips that can help.
Keep the conversation age appropriate. If you are are discussing drugs with a five year old, it is important to explain what to do if someone approaches them and offers a substance, but it may not be necessary to go into detail about the difference between various types of illegal substances. If you are talking to a teenager, your conversation can be more descriptive and detailed. Talking to your children in an age appropriate way will help them to understand the subject at hand, and it may keep them interested in the conversation.
Make sure that the lines of communication are open both ways. When you sit down to talk to your children about drugs, never make it a one-way conversation where you do all the talking. Encourage dialogue, questions and comments from your child. Doing this can help you to learn a lot about the experiences they may have already had, as well as their current understanding of the subject at hand. Open conversation also encourages future conversation, which might mean that your children come to you if they are ever faced with a decision about taking drugs in the future.
Make sure your conversation includes language about peer pressure. One of your child's greatest enemies in the war on drugs might be their best friends. Peer pressure on the playground can be tough, and it is important that your children understand this. Help them to role play ways of saying no, even if that means saying no to a close friend. Help them to understand that they can continue to fit in without engaging in illegal and dangerous activities and help them to feel comfortable when situations get difficult.
Finally, do not be afraid to show your children some of the real world dangers of drug use. Trying to paint a picture about the dangers of drugs without showing some of the effects that they have had on people's lives sometimes leads to having children who are not truly afraid of them. Take the time to share some stories from individuals who have consumed drugs via the Internet, real life support groups in your area, books, magazine articles or documentaries. Try to find information that is age appropriate and instills just enough fear to help your children realize the benefits of making good choices. While this might seem like a harsh way to share information about drug consumption, it is a great way to get across a message that might help to keep your children clean.
Every parent wants what is best for their children, and helping a child to avoid drugs can help to keep a world of possibilities alive. Make sure to have this important conversation with your children. The sooner you do, the greater your chances of keeping them safe.
